Tim McGraw has had enough hit songs in his career that he’s developed a good sense of what he’s looking for when he chooses songs to record. “It has to hit you right away. Melody’s a big thing for me, but it can go either way,” explains Tim. “Sometimes a song is so well written, and the words are so beautiful, that you really don’t care what the melody is. Conversely, sometimes a melody is so good that you don’t really care what the words say. It happens both ways.”

Tim says in his mind what makes a hit song is when you find the perfect combination of lyrics and melody that are both undeniably great. “You don’t always find those,” he says. “Sometimes they lean a little more this way or a little more that way, but I’ve been fortunate in my career to be able to find quite a few songs that they lock up like that.”

Fortunately, Tim was able to find that winning combination in his latest single, “Shotgun Rider,” off his Sundown Heaven Town album.

 

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Tim McGraw – what makes a hit song :42
“It has to hit you right away. Melody’s a big thing for me, but it can go either way. Look, sometimes a song is so well written, and the words are so beautiful, that you really don’t care what the melody is. Conversely, sometimes a melody is so good that you don’t really care what the words say. It happens both ways. But for me, the perfect combination and what you strive to find as an artist is you strive to find those songs that both of those things are involved, where it’s lyrically spot on perfect and melody is somethin’ that just sings itself, practically, and those are the songs that I love to find. You don’t always find those. Sometimes they lean a little more this way or a little more that way, but I’ve been fortunate in my career to be able to find quite a few songs that they lock up like that.”

WHAT HE’S DOING THIS WEEK – NOVEMBER 17, 2014 – MONDAY 

Tim McGraw was nominated last week for a 2014 American Country Countdown Award for Collaboration of the Year for “Meanwhile Back At Mama’s” featuring Faith Hill. Some time off the road before the Thanksgiving holiday, McGraw has been spending time at home in Tennessee with his family.

2014 AMERICAN COUNTRY COUNTDOWN AWARDS

COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR – “Meanwhile Back At Mama’s” – Tim McGraw featuring Faith Hill

The 2014 American Country Countdown Awards will air live from Nashville’s Music City Center on December 15 on FOX.

2015 PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD NOMINATION

FAVORITE MALE COUNTRY ARTIST – Tim McGraw

The People’s Choice Awards will be handed out live on January 7, 2015.

TIM MCGRAW – JUST THE FACTS

BIRTH DATE: May 1, 1967 (He’s 47)

HOMETOWN: Start, Louisiana

WIFE: Faith Hill – Married on October 6, 1996

CHILDREN: Gracie, Maggie and Audrey (all three teenagers)

DEBUT ALBUM: 1993′s Tim McGraw

CURRENT ALBUM: – Sundown Heaven Town – 

CURRENT SINGLE: “Shotgun Rider” sits in the top 8 on the country charts this week.

LATEST MUSIC VIDEO – 2014 – “Shotgun Rider”

RECENT TWEETS:

Tim McGraw @TheTimMcGraw  ·  November 16
Have you added #SundownHeavenTown to your daily playlist? Get a copy of Tim’s new album here: http://smarturl.it/heaventown

Tim McGraw @TheTimMcGraw  ·  November 14
Tim is nominated for @peopleschoice ‘Favorite Male Country Artist’. Vote now: http://bit.ly/McGrawPCA

Tim McGraw @TheTimMcGraw  ·  November 13
#tbt – trucks making their way into alaska! #shotgunrider http://bit.ly/1sKwZ6k

TIM MCGRAW – AWARD WINS

1994 – Country Music Television – Male Video Artist of the Year

1994 – American Music Awards – Album of the Year – Not a Moment Too Soon

1994 – American Music Awards – Top New Male Vocalist

1994 – Billboard Awards – Top New Country Artist

1994 – Billboard Magazine – Top New Country Album – Not a Moment Too Soon

1995 – American Music Awards – Favorite Country New Artist

1997 – Billboard Magazine – Single of the Year – “It’s Your Love” (with Faith Hill)

1997 – Country Music Television – Video of the Year – “It’s Your Love” (with Faith Hill)

1997 – Country Music Television – Male Artist of the Year

1997 – Playgirl Magazine – Top Ten, Sexiest Men of the Year

1997 – CMA – Vocal Event – “It’s Your Love” (with Faith Hill)

1998 – Billboard Awards – Country Single of the Year – “Just to See You Smile”

1998 – CMA – Album of the Year – Everywhere

1998 – Academy of Country Music – Single of the Year – “It’s Your Love” (with Faith Hill)

1998 – Academy of Country Music – Song of the Year – “It’s Your Love” (with Faith Hill)

1998 – Academy of Country Music – Video of the Year – “It’s Your Love” (with Faith Hill)

1998 – Academy of Country Music – Top Vocal Event – “It’s Your Love” (with Faith Hill)

1999 – Academy of Country Music – Male Vocalist

1999 – Academy of Country Music -Vocal Collaboration – “Just to Hear You Say That You Love Me” (with Faith Hill)

1999 – CMA – Male Vocalist

1999 – CMA – Album of the Year – A Place in the Sun

2000 – CMA – Male Vocalist

2000 – National Fatherhood Initiative – Father of the Year

2000 – Academy of Country Music – Male Vocalist

2000 – Billboard Awards – Male Artist of the Year

2001 – American Music Awards – Favorite Male Country Artist

2001 – Grammy Awards – Vocal Collaboration – “Let’s Make Love” (with Faith Hill)

2001 – CMA – Entertainer of the Year

2001 – Billboard Awards – Country Artist

2001 – Billboard Awards – Male Country Artist

2001 – Billboard Awards – Country Albums Artist

2001 – Billboard Awards – Country Single Artist

2001 – Billboard Awards – Country Album – Greatest Hits

2002 – American Music Awards – Best Country Album – Set This Circus Down

2002 – American Music Awards – Favorite Male Country Artist

2003 – American Music Awards – Favorite Country Male Artist

2003 – Radio Music Awards – Country Male Artist

2003 – American Music Awards – Favorite Country Male Artist

2004 – People’s Choice Awards – Favorite Country Male Artist

2004 – Radio Music Awards – Country Male Artist

2004 – CMA – Single of the Year – “Live Like You Were Dying”

2005 – American Music Awards – Album of the Year -Live Like You Were Dying

2005 – American Music Awards – Best Male Country Artist

2005 – Academy of Country Music – Song of the Year -”Live Like You Were Dying”

2005 – Academy of Country Music – Single of the Year -”Live Like You Were Dying”

2005 – People’s Choice Awards – Favorite Country Male Artist

2005 – Grammy Award – Best Male Country Vocal Performance – “Live Like You Were Dying”

2005 – Country Music Television – Most Inspiring Video – “Live Like You Were Dying”

2006 – People’s Choice Awards – Top Male Performer

2006 – Grammy Award Country – Vocal Collaboration – “Like We Never Loved At All” (with Faith Hill)

2012 – CMA – Musical Event of the Year – “Feel Like a Rock Star” (with Kenny Chesney)

2013 – CMA – Music Video of the Year – “Highway Don’t Care” Tim McGraw with Taylor Swift & Keith Urban

2013 – CMA – Musical Event of the Year – “Highway Don’t Care” Tim McGraw with Taylor Swift & Keith Urban

2014 – People’s Choice Awards – Country Music Icon